OATHSWAN is a new band from Athens, Greece, whose can be described as a blend of Metalcore, Post-Metal and Progressive Metal. Each individual has his own experience playing shows alongside Tesseract, Thy Art is Murder, Chelsea Grin, Ne Obliviscaris, Vaden (full tour) and Dimmu Borgir.
Their music identity is a blend of Metalcore, post-Metal, Djent merged into a Cinematic angle. Oathswan have released their first 4 track EP “For Those Who Breathe From Darkness”.
The band’s debut EP “For Those Who Breathe From Darkness” contains four songs that are both heavily intense and downright catchy, gaining positive reviews from important outlets such as Metal Hammer Greece and great feedback from fans of the genre. Filled with heavy, tech-style and groove-laden riffs, this EP combines a crushing aggression with melodic and progressive tone and almost cinematic soundscapes.
The album has four songs, and “Swansong” is the first cut. The tones are ominous, heavy and weighted, almost to the point of pummeling the listener into complete submission. But there is also a good deal of melody mixed in with the Djent style guitar riffs. The push and pull between the two is quite massive, and it’s unlike anything I have heard in a while. “Glass Heart” is another winner, using some electronica seasoned in with the gargantuan riffs and deadly harsh vocals. When the cleans roll in, it’s almost like a cleansing rain. You go from covered in soil and soot to crystal clean and fresh.
“Death Comes Home” is terrible in scope, as the title suggests, and the Djent tones in the guitars are bent down so far, they almost break. They aren’t many melody lines that you can ride out here, it’s just a rabid dog going for the throat if its victim. “The Lovers” is the final song on the EP. It has a smoother and more tender sound, but its bite is still strong. Overall, this was a promising effort from the debut EP. I think if there were a few more songs, the band could have really explored their sense of style more. They have the talent and the drive to become whatever they want in the genre today.
